2025-02-28 シカゴ大学(UChicago)
<関連情報>
- https://news.uchicago.edu/story/researchers-turn-herbal-tea-ingredient-soft-gels-biomedical-use
- https://www.cell.com/matter/fulltext/S2590-2385(25)00045-1
籾殻の粘弾性ハイドロゲルへの持続可能な変換による付加価値の高い生物医学的応用 Sustainable conversion of husk into viscoelastic hydrogels for value-added biomedical applications
Changxu Sun∙ Jiping Yue∙ Pengju Li∙ … ∙ Chuanwang Yang∙ Saehyun Kim∙ Bozhi Tian
Matter Published:February 17, 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.102002
Graphical abstract
Progress and potential
Significant progress has been made in the transformation of plant-derived polysaccharides for biomedical applications. However, sustainable methods for converting rigid polysaccharides into soft, bioactive materials remain limited. This study addresses this gap by focusing on the transformation of husk waste from the fruit of the Malva nut tree (Sterculia lychnophora Hance) into viscoelastic hydrogels. Using a cost-effective extraction method, we isolated polysaccharides and enhanced their mechanical properties and biocompatibility through electrostatic crosslinking with chitosan. These hydrogels promote wound healing by supporting keratinocyte migration. Additionally, the material’s flexibility and conformability make it well suited for bioelectronic applications. It outperformed commercial ECG patches in epidermal recording and was successfully used as a coating for mesh electrodes, enabling cardiac spatiotemporal mapping. The PDH-based hydrogel demonstrated stable and robust epicardial ECG recording in vivo, underscoring its potential for use in advanced biomedical devices. This research opens up new possibilities for sustainable, eco-friendly healthcare solutions, with promising applications in wound healing, tissue engineering, and bioelectronics. The success of PDH hydrogels suggests that other plant-based wastes could also be transformed for biomedical purposes, offering an innovative approach to utilizing abundant natural resources for both environmental sustainability and healthcare advancement.
Highlights
•Sustainable method converts plant husk waste into hydrogels for biomedical uses
•Hydrogels show biocompatibility and boost wound healing via keratinocyte migration
•Hydrogels enhance epicardial ECG recording in a 16-channel mesh electronic device
Summary
Natural plants provide a wealth of valuable materials for healthcare, with much of their potential often overlooked in what is commonly considered waste. This study focuses on the Malva nut tree (Sterculia lychnophora Hance), whose fruit, Pangdahai (PDH), has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. By investigating the swelling behavior of PDH husk, we efficiently extracted its polysaccharides without harsh chemicals. Using micro-compression, we developed a viscoelastic hydrogel, and through electrostatic crosslinking with chitosan, we further enhanced its mechanical properties. The hydrogel exhibited biocompatibility and accelerated wound healing by promoting keratinocyte migration. Additionally, it outperformed commercial patches as a skin-attached interfacial material for electrocardiography (ECG), demonstrating superior signal-to-noise ratios. Integrated into a 16-channel mesh electronic device, the hydrogel provided stable performance for in vivo epicardial ECG recording on a beating heart. This research highlights the potential of rigid polysaccharide waste, presenting a sustainable approach to converting plant waste into valuable healthcare materials.
